Freshwater Mussel Translocation at Highland Park Dam

Swan Creek - Toledo - Ohio

Final Report to Partners for Clean Streams

Prepared by:

Jeffrey D. Grabarkiewicz 18 Oct 2008

Introduction

Swan Creek is a small tributary of the lower Maumee River, draining 204

mi2 at the mouth in downtown Toledo, OH. The creek rises in the rural landscape

of Fulton County and meanders southeast through Oak Openings Metropark

before turning northeast towards the City of Toledo.

In the first half of the 20th century, unionid collections were made on Swan

Creek by Calvin Goodrich and Clarence Clark. Records at the University of

Michigan Museum of Zoology (UMMZ) indicate that a total of 13 species were

recovered by these two malacologists. Museum records at the Ohio State Museum

of Biological Diversity document the presence of just 6 species. More recently,

studies by Grabarkiewicz (2007; 2008) reported 24 species, with 17 species found

live. These surveys also documented new and viable populations of the Ohio state

endangered and federal candidate rayed bean (Villosa fabalis).

Dams have long been implicated in the decline of freshwater mussels

throughout the United States (Ellis 1942; Bates 1962; Coon et al. 1977; USFWS

1985; Bogan 1993; Neves et al. 1993; Yeager 1993; Neves et al. 1997; Hughes and

Parmalee 1999). In fact, of the habitat alterations initiated by humans, the

systematic impoundment of large rivers has likely contributed more to the decline

of freshwater mussels than any other perturbation (USFWS 1985; USFWS 2004).

Impoundment not only reworks the depth and hydraulics of a river reach, but also

prevents the migration of host fishes and may severely alter downstream water

quality (e.g. hypolimnetic releases altering stream temperature and oxygen)

(Watters 1996; Vaughn and Taylor 1999; Watters 2000). As a result, mussel species

adapted to shallow, flowing rivers are now some of the most imperiled animals in

the United States. The destruction of the Epioblasma (riffleshells), for example, has

been attributed largely to the impoundment of small and large rivers (USFWS

1983; USFWS 1985; USFWS 2004).

In the short-term, dam removal or modification may have deleterious

consequences for resident freshwater mussel communities (Doyle et al. 2004; Sethi

et al. 2004). Localized changes in bed stability, water levels, channel morphology,

and sediment transport may initially displace, smother, or create habitat

conditions unsuitable for unionids. For this reason, mussels are typically relocated

(termed "translocation") when channel disturbance or dam work is planned. This

report details the translocation of the freshwater mussel community found below

Highland Park dam in Swan Creek, Toledo, OH (Photo 1).

Methodology

A full coverage, qualitative survey (see Strayer and Smith 2003) was

performed across the area of impact, downstream of the area of impact (to just

before the park footbridge), as well as upstream of the dam. In total, qualitative

sampling was conducted in a cell that extended 129 m downstream (dam to

footbridge) and 52 m upstream of the dam (Figure 1). One pass was made by Phil

Mathias and two passes were made by Jeff Grabarkiewicz starting near the

footbridge working upstream. Underwater viewers were used to assist in the visual

detection of freshwater mussels (Photo 2).

In addition to qualitative searches, quantitative samples were taken every

meter along two transects laid parallel to flow (Figure 2). A total of 20 quadrats

(0.25 m2) were excavated with a small steel scoop. Sediments were deposited and

sieved with a mesh (mesh = 2.5 mm) bag. All quadrat samples were excavated

within the heaviest populated area in an effort to detect burrowing unionids, small

individuals, and overlooked mussels (Photo 3).

Live mussels were identified, measured, and tagged with a unique tracking

number (Table 1; Table 2). Shellfish tags were adhered to both valves using instant

KRAZY glue gel (Photos 4-6). After allowing a short time for the glue to dry,

tagged unionids were deposited in mesh bags and placed in Swan Creek until

translocation. When survey and tagging activities were complete, all mussels were

transported via an aerated cooler to the Anderson Property.

Unionids were hand placed at the Anderson Property using a view-bucket

and wetsuit (Photo 7). Photos were taken to document the exact area of

translocation and a reference measurement from the dam was recorded (Photo 8).

Survey Results

A total of 69 live unionids were collected during qualitative sampling, with

six species found live and an additional six species represented by shell only (12

total species). The unionid species found live included fatmucket (Lampsilis

siliquoidea), white heelsplitter (Lasmigona complanata complanata), fragile

papershell (Leptodea fragilis), pink heelsplitter (Potamilus alatus), giant floater

(Pyganodon grandis), and creeper (Strophitus undulatus) The species represented

by shell only included spike (Elliptio dilatata), Wabash pigtoe (Fusconaia flava),

plain pocketbook (Lampsilis cardium), creek heelsplitter (Lasmigona compressa),

rayed bean (Villosa fabalis), and rainbow (Villosa iris). No live state or federally

listed mussels were found. Evidence of recent reproductive success was found for

fatmucket (L. siliquoidea) [(2) < 46 mm], white heelsplitter (L. c. complanata) [(3)

< 51 mm], and fragile papershell (L. fragilis) [(1) 48 mm). Quantitative sampling

yielded a total of just two live mussels, both L. c. complanata.

All sampled unionids were translocated to the Anderson Property, which is

approximately 7.3 river miles upstream of Highland Park (Figure 3). The majority

of the mussels found on the Anderson Property occur in a pool just below the

Anderson Dam (41.60286, -83.67748). All tagged unionids were hand placed in

this pool near the left downstream bank

Remarks and Conclusions

The species found during survey and translocation activities typically do not

burrow deeply into substrates and are often associated with lentic habitats. Most

of the collected species also tolerate fine substrates. A single subfossil rayed bean

(V. fabalis) valve was recovered from the study area. In my opinion, live V. fabalis

does not occur at the Highland Park site.

While dam turbulence does likely increase D.O. levels downstream, the

excavated substrates exhibited signs of hypoxia/anoxia (gray material,

sulfide/methane odor, etc.). For this reason, I believe that unionid species often

found burrowed in the substrate (e.g. F. flava, E. dilatata, V. fabalis, etc.) have

likely been extirpated from the area. In fact, our surveys over 2006 - 2008 show

that these species occur chiefly in stream reaches where substrates are comprised of

stable, clean sand and gravel (Grabarkiewicz 2007; 2008).

One unusual result of this project was the translocation of mussels to a

point 7.3 river miles upstream of the project site. Typically, translocated mussels

are placed just a short distance (usually 100 m to 500 m) upstream of a proposed

disturbance if suitable habitat exists. This was ultimately due to the lack of a

nearby (and known) unionid bed. To the best of my knowledge, the Anderson

Property was the closest protected location with a unionid community in lower

Swan Creek (see Grabarkiewicz 2008). In addition, the resident mussel

community and habitat features of the Anderson Property closely matched the

Highland Park site (see Grabarkiewicz 2008). For these reasons, it seemed

appropriate to move the tagged unionids to this location.

Future Monitoring

The mussels translocated to the Anderson Property from Highland Park will

require monitoring to evaluate survivorship and health. Generally, an exhaustive

sampling effort is performed to locate translocated mussels. All recovered

individuals are measured with a metric caliper to the nearest tenth of a millimeter.

Recovery rates are then calculated and an analysis of overall health is assessed by

comparing shell lengths at the time of translocation and the time of sampling.

Positive growth is generally used as an indicator of health. It is recommend that

monitoring take place two years after translocation.

Table 1. Summary table of unionids surveyed during Highland Park qualitative and

quantitative sampling activities.

COMMON NAME SCIENTIFIC NAME NOTATION TOTAL MIN

LENGTH MAX

LENGTH OH LIST

fatmucket Lampsilis siliquoidea LASI 4 45.6 70.3 -

white heelsplitter Lasmigona c. complanata LACL 46 38.9 105.3 -

fragile papershell Leptodea fragilis LEFR 2 47.7 78.3 -

pink heelsplitter Potamilus alatus POAL 12 81.0 122.9 -

giant floater Pyganodon grandis PYGR 2 68.6 69.4 -

creeper Strophitus undulatus STUN 3 53.6 61.9 -

spike Elliptio dilatata ELDI S - - -

Wabash pigtoe Fusconaia flava FUFL S - - -

plain pocketbook Lampsilis cardium LACA S - - -

creek heelpslitter Lasmigona compressa LACR S - - -

rayed bean Villosa fabalis VIFA S - - -

rainbow Villosa iris VIIR S - - -

Table 2. Raw survey data with unique tracking numbers for each individual.

DATE SITE SPECIES LENGTH (mm) TRACK1 TRACK2 8/10/2008 HIGH LEFR 47.7 2500 2501 8/10/2008 HIGH LACL 83.9 502 503 8/10/2008 HIGH LACL 97.1 504 505 8/10/2008 HIGH LACL 105.3 506 507 8/10/2008 HIGH LACL 103.1 508 509 8/10/2008 HIGH LACL 64.6 510 511 8/10/2008 HIGH LACL 94.2 512 513 8/10/2008 HIGH POAL 122.9 514 515 8/10/2008 HIGH LACL 87.0 516 517 8/10/2008 HIGH LACL 74.8 518 519 8/10/2008 HIGH POAL 118.9 520 521 8/10/2008 HIGH LACL 85.7 522 523 8/10/2008 HIGH POAL 106.5 524 525 8/10/2008 HIGH POAL 107.7 526 527 8/10/2008 HIGH POAL 110.5 528 529 8/10/2008 HIGH LACL 103.9 535 534 8/10/2008 HIGH LACL 74.2 531 530 8/10/2008 HIGH POAL 90.9 532 533 8/10/2008 HIGH POAL 111.9 537 536 8/10/2008 HIGH POAL 91.5 543 542 8/10/2008 HIGH LACL 73.9 540 541 8/10/2008 HIGH LACL 98.1 538 539 8/10/2008 HIGH POAL 108.7 545 544 8/10/2008 HIGH PYGR 68.6 546 547 8/10/2008 HIGH LACL 70.1 548 549 8/10/2008 HIGH LACL 79.7 552 553 8/10/2008 HIGH LACL 84.5 550 551

8/10/2008 HIGH LACL 71.1 556 557 8/10/2008 HIGH LACL 63.0 558 559 8/10/2008 HIGH LASI 52.6 563 562 8/10/2008 HIGH LASI 45.6 560 561 8/10/2008 HIGH LACL 77.0 555 554 8/10/2008 HIGH LACL 73.4 568 569 8/10/2008 HIGH LACL 53.9 566 567 8/10/2008 HIGH PYGR 69.4 564 565 8/10/2008 HIGH LACL 70.5 570 571 8/10/2008 HIGH LACL 74.7 572 573 8/10/2008 HIGH LACL 82.1 574 575 8/10/2008 HIGH LACL 66.8 576 577 8/10/2008 HIGH POAL 109.5 578 579 8/10/2008 HIGH LACL 60.6 580 581 8/10/2008 HIGH LACL 50.9 582 583 8/10/2008 HIGH POAL 92.6 584 585 8/10/2008 HIGH LACL 89.5 599 598 8/10/2008 HIGH LACL 86.1 592 593 8/10/2008 HIGH LACL 90.8 596 597 8/10/2008 HIGH LACL 103.8 594 595 8/10/2008 HIGH LACL 92.7 588 589 8/10/2008 HIGH LACL 85.5 590 591 8/10/2008 HIGH LACL 101.5 586 587 8/10/2008 HIGH LACL 85.7 600 601 8/10/2008 HIGH LACL 99.2 602 603 8/10/2008 HIGH LACL 79.5 604 605 8/10/2008 HIGH LACL 75.8 608 609 8/10/2008 HIGH LACL 77.8 606 607 8/10/2008 HIGH LASI 70.3 610 611 8/10/2008 HIGH LACL 105.6 612 613 8/10/2008 HIGH LACL 105.6 612 613 8/10/2008 HIGH LACL 66.4 616 617 8/10/2008 HIGH LACL 83.2 614 615 8/10/2008 HIGH STUN 61.9 618 619 8/10/2008 HIGH STUN 53.6 620 621 8/10/2008 HIGH LACL 38.9 626 627 8/10/2008 HIGH STUN 61.1 628 629 8/10/2008 HIGH LEFR 78.3 622 623 8/10/2008 HIGH POAL 81.0 630 631 8/10/2008 HIGH LACL 79.8 632 633 8/10/2008 HIGH LACL 75.1 634 635 8/10/2008 HIGH LACL 80.9 636 637 8/10/2008 HIGH LASI 46.0 638 639

Figure 1. Plan view of Highland Park. Shaded in dark red is the extent of the

qualitative sampling area.

Figure 2. Plan view of Highland Park. The two transects laid parallel to flow are in

white, with individual 0.25 m2 quadrats in red. Note: the quadrats and transects

are not to scale.

Figure 3. Location of the dam site and upstream translocation site.

Photo 1: Highland Park dam and South Ave. bridge.

Photo 2: Jeff Grabarkiewicz (left) and Phil Mathias (right) surveying

for mussels using view-buckets.

Photo 3: Jeff placing a quadrat along a marked transect.

Photo 4: Matt Horvat applying super glue to a white heelsplitter.

Photo 5: Matt adhering a unique tag to a white heelsplitter.

Photo 6: Mussels with drying tags on the workbench.

Photo 7: Jeff searching for spots to hand place unionids at the Anderson Property.

Photo 8: Jeff (right) standing near the point of translocation. Matt (far left)

holding tape to measure the distance from the dam to the translocation point.

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